SANParks to host prestigious conservation awards ceremony

SANParks To Host The Oscars Of Conservation

South African National Parks (SANParks) will be awarding several individuals and organisations at the Annual Kudu Awards ceremony to held at Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand today, 28 November 2024.

According to SANParks, the awards ceremony is dedicated to recognising internal and external stakeholders that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to sustainability, improving livelihoods, and achieving real change in South Africa’s national parks.

The Kudu Awards also reward dedicated scientists, conservationists, and the public for their efforts to tackle and create awareness of conservation issues such as anti-poaching and climate change. 

As part of this award function, various stakeholders are honored, which include media houses, media practitioners, non-governmental organisations, schools, communities, corporates, and individuals.

The awards will be screened live on the SANParks YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/@sanparks) from 18:30 on 28 November 2024.

Festive season-ready

SANParks also recently launched several interventions at its 21 functional national parks in preparation for the 2024 festive season.

According to the parks body, it has focused primarily on safety and security interventions, infrastructure refurbishments to date and activities visitors can undertake at the national parks.

“Various interventions will be conducted during the festive season such as safety campaigns, intense routine patrols, fire safety awareness, water saving and safety initiatives, aerial support (air services) and emergency centre service activations.” SANParks said in a statement.

The parks body also announced the introduction of the new Table Mountain National Park Volunteer Safety Services (VSS) which is a partnership with interested and affected civil society organisations to improve response to crime.

It will operate as a coordinated and collaborative system that ensures civil society’s contributions are embedded in the national park’s overall safety and security strategy and approach.

It will also assist SANParks with a structure for the ongoing establishment, governance and operation of joint efforts with civil society in promoting both visitor and park user safety in the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP).